Lava and tongs

[Wahazar]

"This is too hot to put my hand here" when trying to insert any block into lava. Sound fair, but why it is not possible even when using tongs?

[LadyWYT]

Well it's a lot of very hot substance paired with wooden tongs, so...

I'm guessing it's probably coded that way to keep lava as a hazard, instead of an inconvenience that you can simply throw a dirt block in to rid yourself of the lava entirely.

[idiomcritter]

rumor has it, with hammer and chisel, that lava source can be obtained (if it works, you didn't hear it from me)